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CANADA GOOSE. 



CRAYAT GOOSE. CANADA SWAN. 



Anser Canadensis, ...... Stephens 



Anas Canadensis, ..... Bewick 



Cygnus Canadensis, ..... Jen'tns 



Anser — A Goose. Canadensis — Canadian. 



This very handsome bird is kept, like the Egyptian Goose, in a semi-domesticated 

 state in many of our private waters, and most of the specimens shot in various parts 

 of the country, are probably derived from these sources; besides these, however, many 

 instances have occurred in which no such origin could be attributed to the birds obtained ; 

 and it is now generally allowed by ornithologists that these birds do come to our shores 

 bv the ordinary process of migration; but the natural haunts of this bird being North 

 America, we could not expect any but occasional stragglers to make their appearance. 

 They have been obtained in Cambridgeshire, Cornwall, Derby, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, 

 and Yorkshire; in this county two fine specimens were shot at Skerne, on the 29th. of 

 May, 1845, by Mr. W. Mosey, of that place. It has also occurred in the Scilly Islands, 

 and probably in many other parts of the country. 



In Scotland it has not been met with. 



In Ireland it occasionally occurs in an apparently wild state. 



As an article of food it is much esteemed in North America. Wilson says, "They 

 are sold in the Philadelphia market at from seventy-five cents, to one dollar each; and 

 are estimated to yield half a pound of feathers a-piece, which produces twenty-five or 

 thirty cents more." 



From the middle of August to that of October, the Canada Goose wings its way south- 

 wards to the United States of America; and during its flight over the various countries, it 

 affords profitable sport to the gunners, who literally dot the country over in anticipation 

 of a "Goose Harvest." One man, on a favourable day, will often kill two hundred. 



In the spring they migrate again to the north, for the purpose of incubating in the extreme 

 high latitudes. They are known to breed round the shores of Hudson's Bay; but they 



